Bickell back to Rockford
Posted by TimS on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 15:33
In a perfect world, left winger Bryan Bickell probably deserves to stay with the Blackhawks, so solid has been his play in recent games.
But with Marian Hossa set to make his Hawks debut on Wednesday night at San Jose, Bickell was returned to Rockford on Monday despite scoring the game-winning goal in Sunday's 1-0 win at Vancouver.
Bickell remains a great insurance policy and it only goes to show how deep the Hawks are at forward. It's a long season and Bickell will be back again at some point because he deserves it.
Makes Cam Barker expendable in my eyes. I would rather keep Versteeg then Barker. I know the Hawks may have to dump another mid level contract, and if it's Sharp.....so be it. Sharp tends to disappear at times too much for me, and his shot accuracy isn't great. I would rather keep a large body like Buff, and a multi talented Versteeg. I know Sharp wears a letter, and has been huge in his time here, but you have to wonder if he's hit his ceiling in terms of ability and if the Hawks can get back top dollar for him....take it. Where as Versteeg, I'm not sure. I think this kid has room to grow, and he's only going to get better with the matchups he's going to see.
I know Sopel is slow as hell, but he blocks a LOT of shots on the PK, and has that crafty ability to get pucks out in difficult situations. The Sopel we are seeing now, is very similar to the Sopel you saw 2 years ago, that Tallon extended in fear of not being able to sign a top defenseman. No, he's not worth the money, but he's been very dependable so far.
The Hammer and John Madden have been great surprises for the first 20 games. Madden, because I never had watched him consistently enough. Hammer, has been huge. This kid is the real deal.
Steve> as Tim has noted, Hjalmarsson is an 'untouchable'.
Book it.
Sharp has already been quoted by the Herald as effectively saying he knows he can be traded anytime. Sharpie's a pro, and he is realistic about the hockey business.
Once Hossa is up to speed, Mr Sharp Dressed Man may be packing a suitcase. And he should fetch a handsome return.
couldnt resist.... He is an RFA after this season meaning someone could offer a contract that is too much to match as he wont be extended this year the way things are going!!
this is the real danger after the season, ladd Niemi and a few others!!
I concur with Hjalmarsson but you cant have too many defenseman they say...but they prob said it in the days before the cap.
I like Versteeg as much as Bolland and he plays a lot like Larmer used too...both ways passionately!!
I think Sopel has played well this year. I don't like his salary long term and I don't think he is a can't trade guy but he is playing an important role for the team this year. Why do we have to trade him now just so we can announce contract extensions? It sounds like we are simply dumping his contract as it is. It won't hurt to wait until after the year and see if we can win the Cup. While Sopel isn't great, we really don't have anyone to replace him either. In the offseason other teams get salary off their books so another team might be able to take Sopel on a one year deal.
As for next year with the numbers we've heard on the extensions there will need to be a bit of turnover. I don't expect Madden, Ladd, Sopel, Burish/Fraser back to start. I think it will come to a choice. Either Campbell can be traded or 2 of Barker, Sharp, Versteeg, or Byfuglien. I rather bite the bullet and trade Campbell and try to keep as much of the offensive depth that we can.
No matter what I rather let this team run its course before we start making changes just so we can announce contract extensions. Would the Hawks rather announce contract extensions in November/December or a Stanley Cup winner in June? Priorities.
TSN.CA's Darren Dreger yesterday reported via Twitter the Blackhawks have presented the Toronto Maple Leafs and other teams with different trade options, either Sopel and a prospect or Sopel and a draft pick.
Others are reporting this deal as dead, and that the 'hawks are looking at and Versteeg or Sharp trade as a last resort.
Makes sense to me.
Firepower is not a Hawk problem.With Hossa back that will increse production and raise
the PP %. PK is not a problem with guys like Toews and Madden.Goaltending which I
thought was a problem has turned out well,Huet and Niemi have played pretty well,
having the luxury of not facing many shots per game.I wouldn't mess with the defense.
They they are so mobile and fast in transition.Everyone talks about Lidstrom and Rafalski
being the best pair in the league,but I think Keith and Seabrooke are the best.Keith has
really raised his game.Should be a Norris Trophy contender.I like Campbell,but with big
salary I would look to move him.I no it would be hard with that salary,but if a good deal
came along,I'd move him.Some teams will be having fire sales in near future when
they have fallen out of the playoff possibilities.Toronto is already there.Kaberle is
a guy to look at.If you add somebody like him you make the d deeper.You win in the playoffs with defense,so moving d men for forwards would be stupid.Years ago a reporter
asked the great Jean Beliveau the difference between the Canadiens and Hawks,he said
the Hawks always would just think offense,leaving Glen Hall to fend for himself.He said
they could always catch the hawks on a breakout,cause all 5 guys were deep in attack
zone.Does explain the disappointment long time Hawk fans for Cup loses in 65,71,and 73.It's a different game today,with 2 line passes,the word stay at home defenseman
doesn't.To sum up,don't mess up the defense and the team chemistry.The team is so
young except for a few guys,this team could end winning multiple Stanley Cups.Even
though I'd been a fan since 1966,I really stopped following the team around 1999,
around the same the team fell off the map.A lot of fans felt the same way.I not a fair
weather fan,just got fed up with the previous mgmt not caring about the team,the fans.
just the almighty dollar.But look whats happened over a little over 2 years.Winter Classic,
drafting great young players,a coach that knows how to teach defense,all the games on
tv,no knock against Savvy,one of my fav Hawks of all time,all the great players of the
past back in the fold as ambassadors,Mc Donough promoting the team off the ice.
We now scare teams,get them back on their heals,like the Hull-Mikita teams did.
I thought i'd be gone before the Sox would win a WS,but that dream fullfilled,now
my other dream of the Stanley Cup sitting in the UC is reality.It really could happen
this year.I don't know my reaction if they won the Cup,tears of joy,jumping so high
I put my head through the ceiling.You longtime Hawks know how I feel.I remember
how felt in 70-71 losing that 7th game and the Cup.I had tears in my eyes driving
home on the Eisenhower fron the Stadium.That's all about to change,real soon.
rrob, I can relate to the disappointment in 1971! In 1967, I was bawling after getting beat by T.O. in the semis! I was 14. We had the most exciting team in hockey for at least a decade, and only one Cup! Winning it this year would heal those wounds!!! Beliveau was right tho. There wasn't a lot of team defense back then.
Yeah, the less subtraction is what we all want but some most think enough space will come with Sopel's salary launch.
Your Jean Be'liveau comments just brought up a time I was very familiar to me and I find his comments as very kind to the 'hawks, in saying the two teams were close in parity, save for the Hawks defense lacking philosophy and depth.
After expansion in 66-67 Montreal was still benefiting from a strong amateur scouting chain that included almost exclusivity in the province of Quebec.
Granted, the expansion teams benefited by the rich fruits of Montreal system, but they also used it to strengthen their roster with draft picks, better players, using the plethora of talent in barter that there was simply no room on their roster for.
That Montreal team was fast tough and full of finesse.
The best example might be Jean Provost who was used as a defensive checker on Bobby Hull. There were many a game I attended where Bobby didn't score and Provost had one or more goals (and I saw a hat trick by him against us too).
No other team had as many solid all around fast strong physical and finesse defenseman in the league, depth beyond any other teams by fathoms.
It was only the pure will of the Hawks and the play of the entire team that let them come oh so close to a Cup win.
Players on that team blamed a few of the losses on Billy Reay's breaking up various parts of the scoring lines and many of the players felt that eventually they would have scored and that lack of chemistry of the reshuffled lines are what did the Hawks in.
Reay obviously was trying to just get things going with the shuffles. He knew of the overall depth of the Habs and probably thought they would be shoring up better defensively.
No one in the old Chicago Stadium is still as bitter and disappointed by the Lemaire goal than I still am. Especially since we had the lead with two periods finished.
I just knew that they were a better all around club than the 'hawks and we were going to giant killers just like when I was child in 62.
and as far this lock on winning the CUP, all I can say is Montreal's third period in 1971 proves that there are know sure things. Lots has to happen on the 16 game series road to win a Cup. I WISH I could as confident in a Chicago Cup in 2010 as you are.
(for once, the punctuation remark was aimed at rrobv, not me…)
That was CLAUDE Provost #14 wiz! I am a life-long HAB HATER!!! For good reason. the Cup losses to them in 1965, 1971, and 1973 are 3 big ones. Also, up until the draft system was installed Montreal had the rights to all players from Quebec! That was a definite unfair advantage, and the main reason they have so many Cup wins! On the bright side, I really enjoyed the last game of the season when the Hawks put the Habs out of the playoffs! I listened to it on the radio. The habs needed to score so many goals to beat New York for the last P/O spot. They pulled their goalie half-way thru the 3rd period, I think, and the Hawks hammered home a 10-2 win to knock the Habs out. I never heard the famous horn go off so much as that night!!!
Timing has never been on our side..if the it wasnt the Habs it was the Gretzky and the Oil or Mario!
Im with you Wiz as im not saying were def gonna win the cup but it would sure cure a lot of bitterness
PS nickatnoon61 Montreal had the rights for the top 2 Quebec players per year till the 70 draft! After that they just traded for the top pick (Lafluer)
Wiz, you mean Claude Provost as opposed to Jean Pronovost we presume.
What great hockey days they were...
Claude, yeah, I think I blocked the correct name out because he embarrassed Bobby so....
Jean Pronovost played for the penguins in the mid 70s.... .....
Unless you were going for that breathless effect like that of a child describing what they got for Christmas to Grandma on the phone.
Even so, you need to come up for air once in a while.
TSN.CA's Darren Dreger yesterday reported via Twitter the Blackhawks have presented the Toronto Maple Leafs and other teams with different trade options, either Sopel and a prospect or Sopel and a draft pick.
Others are reporting this deal as dead, and that the 'hawks are looking at and Versteeg or Sharp trade as a last resort.
Makes sence to me.
Ill bet Brian Burke wanted a name constantly bantered about on this board included with Sopel and the Hawks said No!
Would you rather lose a player or two for little or nothing next year but win the Stanley Cup??
I would
EXACTLY boldirev! THE FUTURE IS NOW! I have waited 46 years for a Cup! Leave the roster alone this year, except maybe Huet. In the off-season the Hawks MGMT. can do their CPA work!
I find the salary cap makes you become more than just an average fan, now we cant blame the owner for being cheap or the player for being selfish!
The strategy for team building is at a new plateau and a couple of mistakes (insert hawk GM joke here) can cost you some assets!!
example NYR signing C Drury for 7 mill hit and Rozsival, Michal for 5 mill! Plus they have the perennial injured Gaborik for 7 more!!
I read the comments with great amusement and bewilderment.
I am amused that everyone seems to think they are somehow smarter, more experienced and better informed than the real GMs who make a living at it. Really? Why not get a GM job then?
I am bewildered as to why everyone wants dwell on the negative, engage in conjecture and worry about things completely out of their control. It's like being a kid on summer vacation and worrying all summer about when school starts again. Enjoy the sunshine and rid yourself of all the doom and gloom. Life's too short to not enjoy it.
The Hawks are having one of their best years in recent memory. They are exceeding all expectations for the current road trip. And, they are really fun to watch.
Enjoy it while it lasts!
you are right, this started out as an incredible amount of fun when you could see how things were jelling and the puck seemed to be on a string.
Let's keep enjoying the present, and we all can thumbs up or down after the axe (ah future moves) falls later...
Right on YellowPages1. I agree. There is too much speculation and worry. We need to enjoy this great season. They don't come around every year.
Wiz i thought you were above starting trade rumors , lol!
With the potential signings Toews Kane and Keith,
we will have Toews Kane Hossa Sharp Bolland Versteeg Byfuglien Brouwer Kropecky, Keith Campbell Seabrook Barker Sopel and Huet signed for next year!!
RFA Ladd Eager Fraser Bickell Hjalmarsson Hendry Niemi and Crawford!
UFA Madden Burish
A very nice problem to have.... Niemi Hjalmarsson and Ladd should be the priorities to be signed talent wise but regardless this will be BowJR`s defining moment as a hawk GM! How he (and his dad) manages the cap to keep us moving in the right direction..forward (Stanley Cup)!
Regardless if Barker Versteeg or Sharp etc is/are traded more will have to go after this year! I realize we cant sign them all but if the cup is in reach.....
I was just commenting on someone's propsed big 3 for 1 and his acquistion.
Read on where I say they can't add a big CAP core guy.
Yeah, we all know that cahnges will be abound on the roster next year, but doesn't having Bickell step up and Aliu & Beach and the Rockford improving guys there soften the blow?
Shoot, even as MORE contracts end, you might have the luxury of a Makarov, and a little later, Kruger.
a very nice long term cushion to fit mid range UFAs around the core...
Only kidding my friend... Maybe they should have a smiley face emoticon on here! I respect your opinion
Whether they can continue to do so remains to be seen.
I do not think they would be wanting to dump Kovalchuk anytime soon.
Not after he dropped the gloves and fought some cement head for his team the other night.
I do not think the team will survive in Atlanta, but ex-Wolves coach Anderson has them playing well.......and damn, wouldn't that franchise look good in Quebec?
I'd be stunned if Kovalchuk has a career death wish and decides to resign with the hockey graveyard in Atlanta. But the Hawks simply don't have a way to fit him in under the cap unless they send at least 3-4 guys that way in a deal including at least two forwards from Buff, Sharp, Versteeg and Ladd. They'd also need to get him signed before pulling the trigger.
Ahhhh but to dream....of the power play and Kane dishing it to Kovy. It'd be a beautiful thing to see. Just can't see it happening in real life though. Then again, nobody anywhere thought that the Hawks would get Hossa either......but that's enough dreaming for today.
the cap will be around 53 mil.I say if you get Kovvy for Campbell i'd do it.But no way to
trading Versteeg,Barker,etc.the team has chemistry,lots of firepower up front,even more
with Hossa back.Huet is playing much better out of the shadow of Khabby.I seem to
remember way back in May of 1967 because they lost to Toronto in the playoffs they
decided to make a change.Espo-Stanfield-Hodge to Boston for Pit Martin,Gilles Marotte and minor league goalie Jack Norris.Norris was not NHL caliber,Marotte was slowing skating bust.Only Martin turned out well,and we got Bill White from LA in 1970 for Marotte.We know the rest of the story.We had 2 lousy season til 1969-70,having got
Tony Esposito from Montreal,Maggy was a rookie,guys like Gerry Pinder,came in and played well,and we had gotten Pappin the year before for Pilote.Still after finishing
1st,Tony's 15 shutouts,sweeping Detroit in the 1st round we got swept by Boston on the way to the Cup.We missed the following by 1 period,72 Boston won the Cup again.
Boston stayed on top the entire decade,Hull left,we got old,we made a trade for Joey
Johnston who had a car accident and never regained his NHL skills.You never know what
your getting,Espo and Vadnais to NYR Ratelle and Park to Boston.NYR lost Boston Won.
Beware of making a trade to shake things up.Hawks are fine,no need for big changes.
rrob, you bring back so many memories of the 60s-70s Hawk era! I wonder how many Cups we traded away in 1967??? And Johnston, who had so much potential getting injured. Remember Michel Briere back then had something similar happen to him. He would have been a star in the league!
...I seem to remember something about Atlanta being one of the serious suitors for Campbell before he settled on the Blackhawks...
The speculation (more rumors) as been for a year that the cap will drop but nobody outside the NHL front offices know for sure!
PS Gilles Marotte was the key to this deal for Tommy Ivan and he was fast as a bullet until injuries(he blew his knee out) and the crushing weight of this Epic deal did him in! I would say the Espo and the Hasek deals (worst hawk trades ever) are reasons for caution when trading young players.
Side note: Boston actually got more out of this deal years later when Phil was traded to the Rangers and wanted Ken Hodge there...the price??? straight up for a young unproven dynamo Rick "nifty" Middelton!
Boldy, you are actually incorrect about Marotte, being the cornerstone.
True, Boston knew the addition of Orr gave them room to trade the young Marotte.
The hawks though, had a real big weakeness and no depth in goal and of the one Boston owned as expansion from six to twelve was happining, thta Hawks thought Norris would come in and fill the systems lack of prospects there. (After we yelled Bring UP DeJordy as Glenn go older, he was terrible, Dave Dryden mediocre.
Boston had Doug Favell, Bernie Parent,Jack Norris, and Eddie Johnston and Gerry Cheevers, and the Hawks had the choice and choose the older vet guy.
Philly picked up both Favell and Cheevers in the expansion draft.
Espo Maki and Hull seemed to show contempt for Billy Reay, after being part of the favored St. "Cats" guys as old Coach Pilous called them. (Bill Hay and others from elsewhere felt there was a preferental treatment ) Espo managed to outward tee off Reay who convinced management the team would be better off.
Everyone felt Pit Martin the best return player would adequately replace Espo and the other two would do fine. Norris was less than good and Marotte, although a good hitter never was able to completely learn to play defense well.
You cannot downplay the fact that Espo was the last piece to a powerhouse, strong at every position and anchored by an offenseman who I begrudgingly admit was the best player to lace them up.
Read on and I also say that sometimes no giant moves are better than all these silly giant moves fans here are contriving...
I am presently still in San Jose awaiting the match up.
Ill trust your better judgement Wiz tx for the trip down memory lane, But I rem the hawks looking to get that puck moving defenseman ...maybe cornerstone was way too strong of a word!!!
I dont disagree we have to move someone but not now unless it makes sense...and nothing i have heard on the board I like at all!
I dont like talking specific trade rumors for obvious reasons but i do like to speculate our roster for the future in regards to salaries and cap room and potential!!
The San Jose game could be a precursor for the conference final!! Hold up a sign and wave...enjoy the game!!!
was also looked at as a young guy in a system that it's last bit of farm success with matt ravelich as the depth on the farm and also desparate to add a upside star at dee too.
when the trade happened, my biggest problem was they trade THREE forwards, and two centre.
Marotte just didn't get to be the guy they hoped, but you can say that about many promise guys.
In the old days before a Central Scouting, the key was knowing the junior team and it's GM?Coach (like their relationship with Brian Shaw (gulp) in Portalnd.)
The teams scouting would look at the year by year improvement in stats of the mid and later round guys starting in the second round and try to hope the steady improvement curve continued.
Yeah WE HAVE overTALKED the possible trades they may or are forced to make....
Its nice we could contribute to a budding dynasty....Interesting to hear the name Matt Ravlich, they had plans for him before he was injured, never was the same again!
Regardless of who we lose Wiz, we have something special here and one or two guys wont make that much of an impact going forward!!
but does Atlanta give up on signing him?
Do they take two Hawk guys who clearly are less but are two slot fills?
How do the Hawks sign add another "core" player?
How, when there is still an entire bottom of the roster to populate ?
If a perfect Hawk fan world you add, without major subtractions.
yes, that can be that almost all of the roster can stay intact.
I think you try to keep as much of what shakes out as your top three lines period.
The less that leaves, the better we are.
Outsiders? Nah, I don't think any great upside is coming our way.
No blockbuster.
Just one simple subtraction.
Let's not get greedy. The pieces we have may not solve the CUP equation but it's not like outsiders will put us over the top.
A 3mil salary launched after the Olympics might be the move that gives the team flexibility to use the Rockford pieces and add a vet dee who you pay the last part of the season salary.
Thats what it is all about the playing as a team concept and we havent worked Hossa in yet!! The NYR prove most years that signing or trading for big salaries usually doesnt work!
we have a huge test while Hossa gets his legs back....
You are probably right,
but let's say ATL gives up and says Kovalchuck and a mid-level pick (2-4th rounds) for Barker, Versteeg, and Skille.
Would you do it?
I would think twice(who fills in on D?) but I might do it.
All of the crazy video game trades aside, it would be great if we unload one of the 3mil guys at the deadline for a solid rent-a-player at C or D plus a pick/prospect.
It's just wait and see now.
and although you are send 7.2 mil of MAJOR LEAGUE salary Cap to Atlanta, you are only clearing out a little over 700,000 in the exchange maybe not enough tagging room and that means Kovalchuk is a rental player you cannot even think about resigning, and you just managed to weaken a defense that needs a defensive guy and giving up a pointman and a guy who already has established a rapport playing with the forwards on the Hawk front lines.
Everyone seems to think you pull the plug and the new piece just instantly fits and we are stronger team.
That's why after the Hossa's return, the will be many eyes on every forward on the roster and if there is one guy leaving it will be the guy they evealuate as the least likely to hurt the offnsive chemistry.
The very fact that Bickell was sent down tells me until a forward leaves via trade, they cannot have movement.
Interesting OLD story concerning Bickell and the draft in Raleigh, Carolina: I was staying in the same hotel as his agent (I am not sure if he was at that Comfort Inn). After the second day of the draft was winding down I was sitting with Gordie and Bob McKenzie, and Bob told me, "Bickell in time might surprise you. In midget, he played against my son, and Bickell's team was down something like 5 - 1 and Bickell scored 5 goals to win it for them. His skating will have to come along but he can score."
Pencil in at very least three Rockford or other farm forwards here next year purely out of Cap need.
Now we just wait and see which teams start to drop out of contention and the managements there be a little more trigger happy to lose salaries and eye Hawk castoffs as guys they can build with and sell to their audiences...
Teams
Wiz,
You know full well Kovy and Kane and Hossa and Toews would mesh like peas and carrots. Talent and hockey sense, baby. I'd give them two practices!
Further, you want a righty shot on the point on the PP? They don't come much better.
Listen, it's a short term investment in a Cup this year. No way you can re-sign him. But you create the cap space for next year (this must be done somehow) and I'd go to war with that team (even minus Barker and Versteeg), though a secondary deal for a 4-6 stay at home d-man would likely be needed.
is Rick Dudley. What role or input does he have? Or would he want to pass along his input? He is sort of a visionary for locating players -- was he the person who turned Tallon onto Versteeg, or was Tallon scouting and noticed Versteeg? Anyway, I don't think Atl would trade him; they'd offer him a ridiculous contract first? BTW: former Blackhawk goaltender farmhand is recalled today. Great last name. Mike Broduer!
If we have to lose guys like Versteeg and Barker anyway, why not go for it now. Make a blockbuster trade for a guy like Kovalchuck or Volchenkov or Kaberle.
Even if the Hawks gamble and lose, they will still have a core to build around in Kane, Toews, Keith, Hossa, and Campbell.
Look at all of the parts Detroit lost, and look at how they are still hanging around.
I think if the Hawks wait, they may have to resort to contract buyouts and trading valuable guys for 3rd and 4th round picks in the off season.
When he left his feet and leveled Havlat in the playoffs with his forearm there was much debate over where the hit was legal...now the shoe is on the other foot and Kronwall is injured form a hit by george laracque!!
I dont condone dirty play but players have their own degrees of justice! A lot of Kronwall`s hits are very borderline and I imagine the game hasnt changed with respect to cheapshot artists.....nice to hear red wing GM Al Holland whine...
It's OK, sort of like saying "when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor."
And it's nice to hear them whine regardless.
Karma
Jackubel were on a roll....its been so long!!
Our asst GM KC was viewing the toronto game that was widely talked about to spark rumors , but what wasnt mentioned was that 13 other NHL reps were also there!!
My prediction.... Sopel will be placed on waivers and be sent to the minors unclaimed!!!!
Toews is playing at an unreal level.
Before the concussion, the Toews, Ladd, Sharp line was on the verge of being as good as any in the league. Kinda surprised Quenneville has not reunited them since the Toews return.
But Toews and Kane together have been awesome.
Toews is playing at a level where he could be paired with alot of forwards and still give the Hawks a dominant line.
Even a line of me on one side of Toews with Kelly of the Ice Crew on the other side would be terrific.
The league wants to look at a possible Hawks trade. Because one or both teams would release the players involved? Burke isn't afraid to see what he can do. Recall he acquired a pick from Atl in a similar way last year, before the entry draft. When Hossa returns the offense is plus one good player; when a Veersteeg or offensive talent is traded and Hossa is back, we are still somewhat better off than while Hossa was injured. So yes I'm all for trying to get that (is he available good) defenseman. Makes more sense to make a move now it helps the team, than seeing contracts launched on the cheap around Entry draft time of year.
Makes sense that some team eyes two/thirds of an offensive line by acquiring Versteeg and (choose)Bufuglien/Ladd/Brouwer? Makes sense to say yes, if we include Barker and we get a solid defenseman and a draft pick? Now, who really would want to take Sopel and Skille unless they had some incentive to take them? We're better off making a two or three for one deal only if we get the sort of player who helps us in our vulnerable area. The offensive depth takes a hit; better that than the blueline crew takes a hit. We can always bring up fill ins from Rockford at the forward position, whereas on defense it's Cullimore, Petiot, and say a prayer. You think someone is eating like a McDonut while mulling over all of this? Price to pay for early success of team under McDonough and Tallon?
If a trade comes, the only D to go is Sopel. Otherwise we deal from strength, which is forward. I don't expect Ladd, Madden, or Eager back. Fraser's replaceable; Burish will remain cheap. Hjalmar is a priority, but you have to remember Seabrook's deal is up in another year.
With Hossa, we can afford to lose Sharp or Versteeg, and all you need in return are draft picks (which is what we'll need going forward).
You have another season and a half of Huet, I'll bet. Niemi's still too inexperienced to give the keys to him and Crawford (if CC's still around at that point). But Huet could come off the books just in time to save Seabrook.